LIFETIME TRENDS FOR THE N=3 SINGLET-STATES IN THE MG SEQUENCE

Theoretical lifetime trends are reported for all bound singlet states in the n equals 3 complex of the Mg sequence for Z less than equivalent to 26. Calculations are based on MCHF wavefunctions and include only dipole allowed transitions in the LS scheme. For states that are entering the bound spectrum, the reported lifetime is an upper bound. At sufficiently high Z, all these states can decay only through DELTA n equals 0 transitions and several lifetime trends become similar. Implications for the cascade problem in beam-foil spectroscopy are discussed.